Apparatus and method for managing set top boxes

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to eliminate a scheduled recording of a targeted media program, where the scheduled recording is a redundant recording of the targeted media program that is determined based upon monitoring of recordings of media programs by a group of set top boxes in communication with each other over a network, where another set top box of the group of set top boxes is designated as a host set top box to record the targeted media program, and where the controller is provided access to the targeted media program by the host set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 monitoring recordings of media programs by a group of set top boxes, wherein each set top box of the group of set top boxes is operable to record a media program, and wherein the group of set top boxes are in communication with each other over a network; 
 determining that multiple set top boxes of the group of set top boxes have recorded a same targeted media program; 
 responsive to determining that multiple set top boxes have recorded the same targeted media program, identifying a host set top box from the multiple set top boxes to retain a recording of the same targeted media program; 
 responsive to identifying the host set top box to retain the recording, removing the recording of the same targeted media program from the remainder of the multiple set top boxes; and 
 directing the remainder of the multiple set top boxes to access a recorded version of the same targeted media program by way of the host set top box. 
 
     
     
       2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the monitoring of the recordings of the media programs is based at least in part on scheduled recordings by the group of set top boxes. 
     
     
       3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , comprising computer instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising providing the group of set top boxes with access to the recorded version of the same targeted media program by at least one of progressive download, full download, or streaming. 
     
     
       4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , comprising computer instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising identifying the host set top box based on a quality of recording. 
     
     
       5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , comprising computer instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 detecting an exception generated by the host set top box indicating an inability to perform the recording of the targeted media program; 
 designating a substitute host set top box of the multiple set top boxes to retain the recording of the same targeted media program in response to the detected exception; and 
 deleting the recorded targeted media program from the substitute host set top box after the group of set top boxes have accessed the recorded targeted media program. 
 
     
     
       6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , comprising computer instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising designating another host set top box of the multiple set top boxes to retain the recording of the same targeted media program. 
     
     
       7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , comprising computer instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising designating another host set top box to perform a recording of the targeted media program during presentation of the targeted media program. 
     
     
       8. A server, comprising:
 a memory to store computer instructions; and 
 a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the computer instructions, performs operations comprising:
 monitoring recordings of media programs by a group of set top boxes, wherein each set top box of the group of set top boxes is operable to independently record a media program; 
 identifying multiple set top boxes of the group of set top boxes that have recorded a same targeted media program; 
 identifying a host set top box from the multiple set top boxes to retain a recording of the same targeted media program; 
 responsive to identifying the host set top box, deleting recordings of the same targeted media program from one or more of the multiple set top boxes from the group of set top boxes; and 
 directing one or more of the group of set top boxes to access a recorded version of the same targeted media program by way of the host set top box. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The server of  claim 8 , wherein the processor performs operations comprising providing the one or more of the group of set top boxes with access to the recorded version of the same targeted media program by at least one of progressive download, full download, or streaming. 
     
     
       10. The server of  claim 8 , wherein the processor performs operations comprising designating another host set top box to retain a recording of the same targeted media program during presentation of the same targeted media program. 
     
     
       11. The server of  claim 8 , wherein the computer instructions cause the processor to perform operations comprising providing notice to the one or more of the multiple set top boxes that the record version of the same targeted media program will be deleted from the host set top box. 
     
     
       12. The server of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is in communication with the group of set top boxes over a virtual private network, wherein each set top box of the group of set top boxes is coupled via a corresponding gateway to the server. 
     
     
       13. The server of  claim 8 , wherein the processor performs operations comprising:
 detecting an inability of the host set top box to retain the recording of the same targeted media program due to a change in availability of resources of the host set top box; and 
 selecting a substitute host set top box of the multiple set top boxes to retain the recording of the same targeted media program in response to the detected inability of the host set top box. 
 
     
     
       14. A server, comprising:
 a memory to store computer instructions; and 
 a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the computer instructions, causes the controller to perform operations comprising:
 determine that multiple set top boxes of a group of set top boxes have recorded a same target media content; 
 identifying a host set top box of the multiple set top boxes to retain the same target media content; 
 responsive to identifying the host set top box, deleting recordings of the same targeted media program from one or more multiple set top boxes; and 
 directing one or more of the group of set top boxes to access a recorded version of the same targeted media content from host set top box. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The server of  claim 14 , wherein the processor performs operations comprising indentifying the host set top box based at least in part on a quality of recording of the target media content by the host set top box. 
     
     
       16. The server of  claim 14 , wherein the processor performs operations comprising providing the one or more of the group of set top boxes with access to the recorded version of the same target media content by at least one of progressive download, full download, or streaming. 
     
     
       17. The server of  claim 14 , wherein the processor performs operations comprising:
 identifying a second host set top box; and 
 transferring the recorded version of the target media content to the second host set top box for storage, wherein each set top box of the group of set top boxes is coupled via a corresponding gateway to the server. 
 
     
     
       18. The server of  claim 14 , wherein the processor performs operations comprising:
 detecting a change in an availability of resources of the host set top box to store the same target media content; and 
 designating a second host set top box of the multiple set top boxes to store the same target media program in response to the detected change. 
 
     
     
       19. A set top box, comprising:
 a memory to store computer instructions; and 
 a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the comprises computer instructions, performs operations comprising:
 receiving a request to serve as a host set top box for a group of set top boxes in communication with each other over an internet protocol television network, wherein each set top box of the group of set top boxes has recorded a targeted media program; 
 storing a recording of the targeted media program at the set top box responsive to the received request; and 
 transmitting the recorded targeted media program to a first set top box of the group of set top boxes that have recorded the targeted media program, wherein a recorded version of the targeted media program has been deleted from the first set top box. 
 
 
     
     
       20. The set top box of  claim 19 , wherein the processor performs operations comprising receiving the targeted media program from a substitute host set top box. 
     
     
       21. A method, comprising:
 determining, by a system comprising a processor, whether multiple set top boxes of a group of set top boxes have recorded a same targeted media program; 
 designating, by the system, a host set top box from the multiple set top boxes to retain a recording of the same targeted media program; 
 deleting recordings of the same targeted media program from one or more of the multiple set top boxes responsive to designating the host set top box; and 
 directing one or more of the group of set top boxes to access a recorded version of the same targeted media program from the host set top box. 
 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the group of set top boxes are in communication with each other over a virtual private network, wherein each set top box of the group of set top boxes is coupled via a corresponding gateway to a server, and wherein the two or more separate locations comprise at least one of a residence or an enterprise.